Established in 2021, UAV focuses on investing in startups developing technologies in aerospace, next-generation air traffic control and aviation infrastructure, energy transition and AI-driven travel innovation.

Our mission is to make investments that help drive the industry’s evolution, anticipating shifts and staying ahead of the curve in what’s next to shape the future of travel.

Our investment team

Mukul Hariharan
Managing Partner
Mukul is a Managing Partner of UAV and leads the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund. Prior to joining United in 2023, Mukul spent a decade in investment banking focused on M&A, capital markets and restructuring at JPMorgan, Moelis & Company and Houlihan Lokey and 6 years as an investor at Carlson Capital focused on capital structure arbitrage, special situations, and distressed credit. Mukul has a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Texas and began his career as a commercial airline pilot for US Airways Express and Aloha Island Air.
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Zain Athar
Senior Associate
Zain is a Senior Associate at UAV, where he focuses on Technology and Aerospace investments. Previously, he worked in Transportation Investment Banking at Morgan Stanley in New York, covering the aviation, logistics, and travel sectors. Before Morgan Stanley, he worked at Reneo, a Seed-stage Real Estate asset transformation startup in Hamburg, Germany. He earned his B.A at Columbia University in Economics-Mathematics, with a Minor in German Literature.
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Sam Coleman
Head of Communications and Investor Relations
Sam is Director of Communications and Investor Relations for UAV. Previously, Sam spent a decade working in various political roles across the country and in Washington D.C.
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Ari Ruffer
Managing Counsel
Ari is Managing Counsel at United where he advises UAV and United’s Corporate Development group. Prior to joining United Airlines, he worked at Bird Global, where he advised the company on corporate and commercial matters. Ari started his career at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, where he advised clients on mergers and acquisitions, debt financings and general corporate matters. Ari received a B.A. in Public Policy from Duke University and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.
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Andrew Shen
Principal
Andrew is a Principal at UAV and a founding member of the UAV Sustainable Flight Fund team. At UAV, he focuses on investments at the intersection of startup innovation and United’s operational needs as well deploying capital into lower carbon technologies. Previously at United, Andrew worked in Corporate Development and Financial Planning & Analysis, driving business case development for initiatives including regional airline acquisitions, commercial strategy, and airport infrastructure. Prior to United, he spent over a decade at McMaster-Carr, where he led operations, logistics and supply chain teams. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a BA from Carleton College.
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Nicholas Linton
Senior Associate
Nick is a Senior Associate on UAV Sustainable Flight Fund, where he helps execute all aspects of the fund’s investment activities. Previously, he worked in energy investment banking at Houlihan Lokey, advising on restructurings, M&A, and capital raises. Nick holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Finance from McGill University.
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Chris Sipos
Senior Associate
Chris has spent over a decade in various manufacturing and business roles, spanning the chemicals, industrial biology, and nutrition industries at both Fortune 500s and start-ups. He began his career at DuPont as process engineer, eventually transitioning into product management. After business school he joined Nature’s Fynd, an alternative protein startup, where he focused on technology scaleup and commercial development. He has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Rowan University, MS in Biochemical Engineering from Villanova, and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
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Scott Heritsch
Lead Technical Advisor and Flight Test Captain
Scott is a United Airlines test pilot, where he flies all six aircraft types.  With his aerospace and engineering experience and knowledge, Scott leads technical due diligence for UAV, particularly for advanced aviation investment opportunities, including airframe and engine designs, OEMs and alternative propulsion. As a Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, Scott retired in 2017 after a career as an experimental test pilot where he flew over 50 aircraft types in combat, test, and commercial roles, with prior leadership positions at the Pentagon and DARPA focused on autonomy and AI.
He holds a bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering and a master's in National Strategy and is a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School.